Petit Jean State Park
Home to the wonderful wilderness, the picturesque Petit Jean State Park can be found in the north of Arkansas, not far from Morrilton. Local legend has it that the park is named after a young 18th-century French woman who tragically died while exploring the region.
As the story goes, she disguised herself as a man so she could accompany her lover on the expedition, only revealing her true identity on her deathbed. Set amid some lovely scenery, her grave can still be seen atop of the magnificent mount lying at the heart of the park. From its summit, visitors can enjoy superb views over the Arkansas River Valley, with epic caves, canyons, and forests dotted about its lower slopes. While some great hiking can be had in the park, as well as fishing and boating on Lake Bailey, one of its most enchanting attractions is the sparkling Cedar Falls, which plunges 29 meters down a jagged cliff face.
Two swimming pools, picnic areas, playgrounds, pavilions, a boat launch ramp, tennis and basketball court, and an amphitheater are also on site. Hiking trails lead through forests and meadows, over canyons, and along streams and the mountainside. See where nature formed sheer bluffs, the spectacular 95-foot Cedar Falls, Seven Hollows, and such distinctive features as Bear Cave, the Grotto, Natural Bridge, and other formations like carpet rocks and turtle rocks. Interpreters lead programs and special events throughout the year showcasing the uniqueness of this park. It's rare to find a place that will entice you to return again and again. Petit Jean is that place. Come discover the beautiful, mystical qualities of Arkansas’s first state park.
- Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
- Website: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park
- Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Admission: Free
- Address: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110
